Thomas McLaughlin

A technique for obtaining spatial kinematic parameters of segments of biomechanical systems from cinematographic data

Abstract This paper describes a technique for establishing the three-dimensional kinematic parameters of a body using only the basic cinematographic equipment available in most biomechanics laboratories. Parameters can be determined using only one camera, but accuracy is improved by utilizing data from two or more simultaneous, synchronized film strips. In general, at least 3 points of known location must be available on each body. More points can be utilized to obtain a better solution in a least squares sense. Fewer than 3 points on each body are needed when the bodies are coupled by joints with known characteristics as in a machine or approximately in biomechanical systems. The parameters needed for biomechanical analysis via matrix methods are obtainable directly. The accuracy of the method is explored by means of a controlled experiment using a three-dimensional mechanical linkage. In addition, the data was utilized to investigate the accuracy of several smoothing and differentiation techniques.

Kinetics of the Parallel Squat

Abstract This study investigated the muscular torques and joint forces during the parallel squat, as performed by some of the best national and world-class powerlifters. Cinematographic analysis of 12 competitors in the U.S. Senior National A.A.U. Powerlifting Championships provided continuous measurements of joint and bar centers. These data were used in dynamic equations of motion to obtain vertical and horizontal joint forces and muscular torques for the shank, thigh, and trunk. Prior to analysis, subjects were further classified into three groups according to skill shown in performing the parallel squat. Results indicated that high-skilled subjects minimized trunk torques by maintaining a more erect trunk position and also demonstrated more extensor-dominant thigh torques. It was also found that quasistatic or static treatments of the parallel squat provide results within 10% of the dynamic equations of motion.

A biomechanical analysis of industrial manual materials handlers

Resultant forces and torques on the joints of 11 females were studied as the subjects performed two manual materials handling tasks in their industrial environment. The subjects activities were recorded by high speed (102 frames per second) 16mm cinematography and the data analysed by a static and dynamic biomechanical model. Statistically significant differences were found between the results of the static and dynamic analyses. Slower filming rates were simulated and were found to show fewer significant differences between the static and dynamic analysis as the data sampling rate decreased. A kinematic analysis of the experienced and inexperienced lifters revealed a great deal of intra-subject variability as well as inter-subject variability indicating that the subjects varied their motion patterns as they lifted or lowered several 14 kg loads. For submaximal tasks such a variation in lifting patterns would allow the subjects to develop muscular load sharing which would help reduce localized muscle fati...

Biomechanical Analysis with Cubic Spline Functions.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if the cubic spline could provide accurate smoothed estimates of displacement-time functions and corresponding time derivatives for typical biomechanical data obtained from cinematographical records. Various experiments were conducted to ascertain a procedure for determining the error associated with data and for validating and comparing results obtained by the cubic spline with other commonly employed curve-fitting techniques. Results of these experiments indicated that reasonable estimates of the error inherent in the data can be assessed a priori, and, when used in conjunction with the cubic spline, an accurate description of displacement-time data and corresponding time derivatives can be obtained. Since the cubic spline has the natural tendency to approach zero at the endpoints of a function for the second derivatives, special consideration should be taken in applying the cubic spline when second derivatives at the endpoints are unknown or not equal...

KB220Z™ a Pro-Dopamine Regulator Associated with the Protracted, Alleviation of Terrifying Lucid Dreams. Can We Infer Neuroplasticity-induced Changes in the Reward Circuit?

Background Recent reports by our laboratory have indicated that lucid dreams may be linked to psychiatric conditions, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other Reward Deficiency Syndrome-related diagnoses. In the latter case, it has been our observation that such lucid dreams can be unpleasant and frequently terrifying. Case presentations We present four cases of a dramatic and persistent alleviation of terrifying, lucid dreams in patients diagnosed with ADHD/PTSD and/or opiate/opioid addiction. The amelioration of such dreams could well be permanent, since the patients had stopped taking the nutraceutical for between 10 to 12 months, without their recollection or recurrence. In the first case, the patient is a 47-year-old, married male who required continued Buprenorphine/ Naloxone (Suboxone) treatment. The second case involved a 32-year-old female with the sole diagnosis of ADHD. The third case involves a 38-year-old male who carried the diagnoses of Substance Use Dependence and ADHD. The fourth case involved a 50-year-old female with the diagnoses of Alcohol Abuse, ADHD and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Results In order to attempt to understand the possibility of neuroplasticity, we evaluated the effect of KB220Z in non-opioid-addicted rats utilizing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging methodology. While we cannot make a definitive claim because rat brain functional connectivity may not be exactly the same as humans, it does provide some interesting clues. We did find following seeding of the dorsal hippocampus, enhanced connectivity volume across several Regions of Interest (ROI), with the exception of the pre- frontal cortex. Interestingly, the latter region is only infrequently activated in lucid human dreaming, when the dreamer reports that he/she had the thought that they were dreaming during the lucid dream. Conclusions The four patients initially reported a gradual but, then, complete amelioration of their long-term, terrifying, lucid dreams, while taking KB220Z. The persistent amelioration of these dreams continued for up to 12 months, after a self-initiated, cessation of use of KB220Z. These particular cases raise the scientific possibility that KB200Z increases both dopamine stability as well as functional connectivity between networks of brain reward circuitry in both rodents and humans. The increase in connectivity volume in rodents suggest the induction of neuroplasticity changes, which may be analogous to those involved in human lucid dreaming as well as Rapid Eye Movement sleep. The possibility that the complex induces long-term, neuroplasticity changes must await more intensive investigations, involving large-population, double-blinded studies.

Hypothesizing Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs Mass Shooters Suffer from Reward Deficiency Syndrome: “Born Bad”

The slaughters in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs demand explanation, in the face of the ineffable. An understanding of the shooters’ motives could restore our trust in our mutually cooperative existence. In this short communication we provide post-hoc rationale of both Stephen Paddock (Las Vegas mass shooting) and Devin Kelley (Southerland Springs mass shooting) and hypothesize that these shooters had genetically induced “Reward Deficiency Syndrome” (RDS) and a hypodopaminergia trait/state. In this particular case we are in pursuit of trying to obtain postmortem samples of mass shooters for subsequent epigenetic and neurogenetic analyses. It is our contention that early genetic identification of RDS and its pathological behaviors including hyper – sexuality, violence, a love for guns, even in children, could be a giant step forward in potentially saving lives.